USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
DAYTON, the county seat, is situated on the east side of the Great Miami, at the mouth of Mad river, and 1 mile below the southwest branch. It is 67 miles westerly from Columbus, 52 from Cincinnati and 110 from Indianapolis. The point at which Dayton stands was selected, in 1788, by some gentlemen, who designed laying out a town by the name of Venice. They agreed with John Cleves Symmes, whose contract with congress then covered the site of the place, for the purchase of the lands. But the Indian wars which en- sued, prevented the extension of settlements from the immediate neighborhood of Cincinnati, for some years: and the project was abandoned by the purchasers. Soon after Wayne's treaty, in 1795, a new company, composed of Generals Jonathan Dayton, Arthur St. Clair, James Wilkinson and Col. Israel Ludlow, purchased the lands between the Miamis, around the mouth of Mad river, of Judge Symmes, and on the 4th of November, laid out the town. Ar- rangements were made for its settlement in the ensuing spring, and donations of lots were offered, with other privileges, to actual set- tlers. Forty-six persons entered into engagements to remove from Cincinnati to Dayton, but during the winter most of them scattered in different directions, and only 19 fulfilled their engagements The first families who made a permanent residence in the place, ar- rived on the 1st day of April, 1796. The first 19 settlers of Dayton, were Wm. Gahagan, Samuel Thomson, Benj. Van Cleve, Wm. Van Cleve, Solomon Goss, Thomas Davis, John Davis, James M'Clure,
* J. W. Van Cleve, Esq. 47
370
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
John M'Clure, Daniel Ferrell, William Hamer, Solomon Hamer, Thomas Hamer, Abraham Glassmire, John Dorough, William Chenoweth, James Morris, William Newcom and George Newcom, the last of whom is still a resident of the place, and the only survivor of the whole number.
View in Dayton.
[The above view was taken near the corner of First and Ludlow streets. In front is shown the elegant residence of J. D. Phillips, Esq., and the First Presbyterian church ; on the left, the cupola of the new court house and the spires of the German Reformed and Second Presbyterian churches appear.]
Judge Symmes was unable to complete his payments for all the lands he had agreed to purchase of the government, and those lying about Dayton reverted to the United States, by which the settlers were left without titles to their lots. Congress, however, passed a pre-emption law, under which those who had contracted for lands with Symmes and his associates, had a right to enter the same lots or lands at government price. Some of the settlers entered theit lots, and obtained titles directly from the United States ; and others made an arrangement with Daniel C. Cooper, to receive their deeds from him, and he entered the residue of the town lands. He had been a surveyor and agent for the first company of proprietors, and they assigned him certain of their rights of pre-emption, by which he be- came the titular proprietor of the town. He died in 1818, leaving two sons, who have both since died without children.
In 1803, on the organization of the state government, Montgom- ery county was established. Dayton was made the seat of justice, at which time only five families resided in the town, the other set- tlers having gone on to farms in the vicinity, or removed to other parts of the country. The increase of the town was gradual, until the war of 1812, which made a thoroughfare for the troops and
1
371
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
stores on their way to the frontier. Its progress was then more rapid until 1820, when the depression of business put an almost total check to its increase. The commencement of the Miami canal, in 1827, renewed its prosperity, and its increase has been steady and rapid ever since. By the assessment of 1846, it is the second city in the state in the amount of taxable property, as the county also stands second.
The Cooper Female Academy.
[The Cooper Female Academy in Dayton, is a highly flourishing institution in excellent repute. Mr. E. E. Barney is the principal, under whom are 7 assistants and 174 pupils.]
The first canal boat from Cincinnati arrived at Dayton on the 25th of January, 1829, and the first one from Lake Erie on the 24th of June, 1845. In 1825, a weekly line of mail stages was estab- lished through Dayton from Cincinnati to Columbus. Two days were occupied in coming from Cincinnati to this place. There are now three daily lines between the two places, and the trip only takes an afternoon.
The first newspaper printed in Dayton, was the Dayton Reper- tory, issued by William M'Clure and George Smith, on the 18th of September, 1808, on a foolscap sheet. The newspapers now pub- lished here are the " Dayton Journal," daily and weekly ; the "Day- ton. Transcript," twice a week ; and the " Western Empire," weekly.
The population of Dayton was 383 in 1810; 1139 in 1820; 2954 in 1830; 6067 in 1840, and 9792 in 1845. There are 15 churches, of which the Presbyterians, Methodists and Lutherans each have two, and the Episcopalians, Catholics, Baptists, Disciples, New- lights, German Reformed, Albrights, Dunkers and African Baptists, have each one. There is a large water power within the bounds of the city, besides a great deal more in the immediate vicinity. A portion of that introduced in the city by a new hydraulic canal, is not yet in use ; but there are now in operation within the corporate limits, 2 flouring mills, 4 saw mills, 2 oil mills, 3 cotton mills, 2 wool- len factories, 2 paper mills, 5 machine shops, 1 scythe factory, 2
372
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
flooring machines, 1 last and peg factory, 1 gun-barrel factory and 3 iron founderies. The public buildings are 2 market houses, one of which has a city hall over it, an academy, a female academy, 3 common-school houses and a jail of stone. There are 2 banks. A court house is now building of cut stone, the estimated cost of which is $63,000. The architect, by whom it was designed, is Mr. Henry Daniels, now of Cincinnati, and the one superintending its construction, is Mr. Daniel Waymire. There are nine turnpike roads leading out of Dayton, and connecting it with the country around, in every direction. The Miami canal, from Cincinnati to Lake Erie, runs through it.
Among the early settlers of Montgomery county was Col. Robert Patterson. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1753, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1775. In 1804, he removed from Kentucky and settled about a mile below Dayton. He was the original proprietor of Lexington, Ky., and one-third owner of Cincinnati, when it was laid out. He was with Col. George Rogers Clarke in 1778, in his celebrated Illinois campaign ; in the following year he was in Bow- man's expedition against old Chillicothe ;* in August, 1780, he was a captain under Clarke, in his expedition against the Shawnees, on the Little Miami and Mad river ; was second in command to Col. Boone, August 19th, 1782, at the battle of the Lower Blue Licks ; was colonel on the second expedition of Gen. Clarke, in the follow- ing September, into the Miami country ; held the same office in 1786, under Col. Logan, in his expedition against the Shawnees. He died, August 5th, 1827. His early life was full of incidents, one of the most remarkable of which we give in his own language, as originally published in the Ohio National Journal.
In the fall of 1776, I started from M'Clellan's station, (now Georgetown, Ky.,) in com- pany with Jos. M'Nutt, David Perry, James Wernock, James Templeton, Edward Mitch- ell and Isaac Greer, to go to Pittsburgh. We procured provision for our journey at the Blue Licks, from the well-known stone house, the Buffalo. At Limestone, we procured a canoe, and started up the Ohio river by water. Nothing material transpired during sev- eral of the first days of our journey. We landed at Point Pleasant, where was a fort com- manded by Capt. Arbuckle. After remaining there a short time, and receiving dispatches from Capt. Arbuckle to the commandant at Wheeling, we again proceeded. Aware that Indians were lurking along the bank of the river, we travelled with the utmost caution. We usually landed an hour before sunset, cooked and eat our supper, and went on until after dark. At night we lay without fire, as convenient to our canoe as possible, and started again in the morning at day break. We had all agreed that if any disaster should befall us by day or by night, that we would stand by each other, as long as any help could be afforded. At length the memorable 12th of October arrived. During the day we passed several new improvements, which occasioned us to be less watchful and careful than we had been before. Late in the evening we landed opposite the island, [on the Ohio side of the river, in what is now Athens county,] then called the Hockhocking, and were beginning to flatter ourselves that we should reach some inhabitants the next day. Having eaten nothing that day, contrary to our usual practice, we kindled a fire and cooked supper. After we had eaten and made the last of our flour into a loaf of bread, and put it into an old brass kettle to bake, so that we might be ready to start again in the morning at day- break, we lay down to rest, keeping the same clothes on at night that we wore during the
* The Notes on Kentucky gives the number of men under Bowman, on this occasion, as 160 ; but the memoranda of Col. Patterson puts it at 400 .- J. W. Van Cleve, in the Am. Pioneer.
373
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
day. For the want of a better, I had on a hunting shirt and britch clout, (so called,) and flannel leggins. I had my powder horn and shot pouch on my side, and placed the butt of my gun under my head. Five of our company lay on the east side of the fire, and James Templeton and myself on the west ; we were lying on our left sides, myself in front, with my right hand hold of my gun. Templeton was lying close behind me. This was our position, and asleep, when we were fired upon by a party of Indians. Immediatey after the fire they rushed upon us with tomahawks, as if determined to finish the work of death they had begun. It appeared that one Indian had shot on my side of the fire. I saw the flash of the gun and felt the ball pass through me, but where I could not tell, nor was it at first painful. I sprang to take up gun, but my right shoulder came to the ground. I made another effort, and was half bent in getting up, when an Indian sprang past the fire with savage fierceness, and struck me with his tomahawk. From the position I was in, it went between two ribs, just behind the back bone a little below the kidney, and penetra- ted the cavity of the body. He then immediately turned to Templeton, (who by this time had got to his feet with his gun in hand,) and seized his gun. A desperate scuffle ensued, but Templeton held on, and finally bore off the gun. In the meantime, I made from the light, and in my attempt to get out of sight, I was delayed for a moment by getting my right arm fast between a tree and a sapling, but having got clear and away from the light of the fire, and finding that I had lost the use of my right arm, I made a shift to keep it up by drawing it through the straps of my shot pouch. I could see the crowd about the fire, but the firing had ceased and the strife seemed to be over. I had reason to believe that the others were all shot and tomahawked. Hearing no one coming towards me, I re- solved to go to the river, and if possible to get into the canoe and float down, thinking by that means I might possibly reach Point Pleasant, supposed to be about 100 miles distant. Just as I got on the beach a little below the canoe, an Indian in the canoe gave a whoop, which gave me to understand that it was best to withdraw. I did so ; and with much difficulty got to an old log, and being very thirsty, faint and exhausted, I was glad to sit down. I felt the blood running and heard it dropping on the leaves all around me. Presently I heard the Indians board the canoe and float past. All was now silent, and I felt myself in a most forlorn condition. I could not see the fire, but determined to find it and see if any of my comrades were alive. I steered the course which I supposed the fire to be, and having reached it, I found Templeton alive, but wounded in nearly the same manner that I was. Jas. Wernock was also dangerously wounded, two balls having passed through his body ; Jos. M'Nutt was dead and scalped. D. Perry was wounded, but not badly, and Isaac Greer was missing. The miseries of that hour cannot well be described.
When daylight appeared we held a council, and concluded that inasmuch as one gun and some ammunition was saved, Perry would furnish us with meat, and we would pro- ceed up the river by slow marches to the nearest settlements, supposed to be one hundred miles. A small quantity of provisions which was found scattered around the fire, was picked up and distributed among us, and a piece of blanket which was saved from the fire, was given to me to cover a wound on my back. On examination, it was found that two,balls had passed through my right arm, and that the bone was broken ; to dress this, splinters were taken from a tree near the fire, that had been shivered by lightning, and placed on the outside of my hunting shirt and bound with a string. And now being in readiness to move, Perry took the gun and ammunition, and we all got to our feet except Wernock, who, on attempting to get up fell back to the ground. He refused to try again, said that he could not live, and at the same time desired us to do the best we could for ourselves. Perry then took hold of his arm and told him if he would get up he would carry him ; upon this he made another effort to get up, but falling back as before, he begged us in the most solemn manner to leave him. At his request, the old kettle was filled with water and placed at his side, which he said was the last and only favor required of us, and then conjured us to leave him and try to save ourselves, assuring us that should he live to see us again, he would cast no reflections of unkindness upon us. Thus we left him. When we had got a little distance I looked back, and distressed and hopeless as Wernock's condition really was, I felt to envy it. After going about 100 poles, we were obliged to stop and rest, and found ourselves too sick and weak to proceed. Another consultation being held, it was agreed that Templeton and myself should remain there with Edward Mitchell, and Perry should take the gun and go to the nearest settlement and seek relief. Perry promised that if he could not procure assistance, he would be back in four days. He then returned to the camp and found Wernock in the same state of mind as when we left, perfectly rational and sensible of his condition, replenished his kettle with water, brought us some fire, and started for the settlement.
Alike unable to go back or forward, and being very thirsty we set about getting water
374
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
from a small stream that happened to be near us, our only drinking vessel an old wool hat, which was so broken that it was with great difficulty made to hold water ; but by stuffing leaves in it, we made it hold so that each one could drink from once filling it. Nothing could have been a greater luxury to us, than a drink of water from the old hat. Just at night, Mitchell returned to see if Wernock was still living, intending if he was dead, to get the kettle for us. He arrived just in time to see him expire ; but not choosing to leave him until he should be certain that he was dead, he stayed with him until darkness came on, and when he attempted to return to us, he got lost and lay from us all night. We suffered much that night for the want of fire, and through fear that he was either killed or that he had ran off; but happily for us, our fears were groundless, for next morning at sunrise, he found his way to our camp. That day we moved about 200 yards farther up a deep ravine, and farther from the river. The weather, which had been cold and frosty, now became a little warmer, and commenced raining. Those that were with me could set up, but I had no alternative but to lie on my back on the ground, with my right arm over my body. The rain continuing next day, Mitchell took an excursion to examine the hills, and not far distant, he found a rock projecting from the cliff sufficient to shelter us from the rain, to which place we very gladly removed. He also gathered pawpaws for us, which were our only food, except perhaps a few grapes.
Time moved slowly on until Saturday. Iu the meantime, we talked over the danger to which Perry was exposed, the distance he had to go and the improbability of his returning. When the time had expired which he had allowed himself, we concluded that we would, if alive, wait for him until Monday, and if he did not come then, and no relief should be afforded, we would attempt to travel to Point Pleasant. The third day after our defeat, my arm became very painful. The splinters and leaves of my shirt were cemented to- gether with blood, and stuck so fast to my arm that it required the application of warm water for nearly a whole day to loosen them so that they could be taken off; when this was done, I had my arm dressed with white oak leaves, which had a very good effect. On Saturday, about 12 o'clock, Mitchell came with his bosom full of pawpaws, and placed them convenient to us, and returned to his station on the river. He had been gone about an hour, when to our great joy we beheld him coming with a company of men. When they approached us, we found that our trusty friend and companion, David Perry, had re- turned to our assistance with Capt. John Walls, his officers and most of his company. Our feelings of gratitude may possibly be conceived, but words can never describe them. Suffice to say that these eyes flowed down plenteously with tears, and I was so completely over- whelmed with joy, that I fell to the ground. On my recovery, we were taken to the river and refreshed plentifully with provisions, which the captain had brought, and had our wounds dressed by an experienced man, who came for that purpose. We were afterwards described by the captain to be in a most forlorn and pitiable condition, more like corpses beginning to putrify than living beings.
While we were at the cliff which sheltered us from the rain, the howling of the wolves in the direction of the fatal spot whence we had so narrowly escaped with our lives, left no doubt that they were feasting on the bodies of our much lamented friends, M'Nutt and Wernock. While we were refreshing ourselves at the river, and having our wounds dressed, Capt. Walls went with some of his men to the place of our defeat, and collected the bones of our late companions and buried them with the utmost expedition and care. We were then conducted by water to Capt. Wall's station, at Grave creek.
Miamisburg is 10 miles southerly from Dayton, on the Miami ca- nal and river, and the state road from Dayton to Cincinnati. This locality was originally called " Hole's Station," and a few families settled here about the time Dayton was commenced. The town was laid out in 1818 ; Emanuel Gebhart, Jacob Kercher, Dr. John and Peter Treon, being the original proprietors. The early settlers were of Dutch origin, most of whom emigrated from Berks county, Pa. The German is yet much spoken, and two of the churches worship in that language. The river and canal supply considerable water power. The town is compactly built. The view was taken near J. Zimmer's hotel-shown on the right-and gives the appear- ance of the principal street, looking from that point in the direction of Dayton. A neat covered bridge crosses the Miami river at this
375
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
place. Miamisburg contains 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Lutheran and 1 Methodist church, 1 high school, 12 mercantile stores, 1 woollen and
View in Miamisburg.
1 cotton factory, 1 grist mill, 1 iron foundery, and had in 1340, 834, and in 1846, 1055 inhabitants.
In the lower part of Miamisburg, are the remains of an ancient work ; and this region abounds in the works and fortifications so common in the west. About a mile and a quarter southeast of the vil- lage, on an elevation more than 100 feet above the Miami, is the largest mound in the northern states, excepting the mammoth mound at Grave creek, on the Ohio below Wheeling, which it about equals in dimensions. It measures about 800 feet around the base, and rises to the height of 67 feet. When first known, it was covered with forest trees, from the top of one of which,-a maple tree growing
Great Mound.
from its apex,-it is said, Dayton could be plainly seen. The mound has not been thoroughly examined, like that at Grave creek; but probably is similar in character. Many years since, a shaft was sunk from the top ; at first, some human bones were exhumed, and at
376
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the depth of about 11 feet, the ground sounding hollow, the workmen were afraid to progress farther. Probably two vaults are in it, like those of Grave creek ; one at the base in the center, the other over it, near the summit; it was, we suppose, this upper vault which gave forth the hollow sound. The mound is the steepest on the north and east sides, and is ascended with some little difficulty. It now sustains an orchard of about 40 apple, and a few peach and forest trees. The view from the summit is beautiful. At one's feet lays the village of Miamisburg, while the fertile valley of the river is seen stretching away for miles.
SC
Center Street, Germantown.
Germantown, named from Germantown, Pa., is 13 miles sw. of Dayton, in a beautiful valley, surrounded by one of the most fertile sections of land in the west. It is steadily improving, and is noted for the substantial industry and wealth of its citizens. This thriv- ing town was laid out in 1814, by Philip Gunckel, proprietor, who previously built a saw and grist mill on Twin creek, and opened a store at the same place. Most of its early. settlers were of German descent, and emigrated from Berks, Lebanon and Center counties, Pa. Among these, were the Gunckels, the Emericks, the Schæffers, &c., whose descendents now comprise a large proportion of the in- habitants. The village is handsomely laid out in squares, the houses are of a substantial character and the streets ornamented by locusts. It contains 2 German Reformed, 1 Lutheran, 1 Episcopal Methodist and 1 United Brethren church, a flourishing academy for both sexes, 1 book, 2 grocery and 5 dry goods stores, 1 newspaper printing office, 1 brewery, 1 woollen factory, and about 1200 inhabitants.
Carrolton, Alexandersville, Centerville, Harrisburg, Union, Ar- lington, Phillipsburg, Salem, Pyrmont, New Lebanon, Johnsville, Farmersville, Sunbury, Liberty, Vandalia, Little York, Chambers- burg, Texas, Mexico, M'Pherson, Lewisburg, North and West Day- ton, are all small places, the largest of which may contain 60 dwell- ings.
st 0 1
0 h
377
MORGAN COUNTY.
--
MORGAN.
MORGAN, named from Gen. Daniel Morgan, of the revolution, was organized March 1st, 1818. The Muskingum flows through the heart of the county, which, with its branches, furnishes considerable water power. The surface is very hilly ; the soil limestone clay, strong and fertile. The principal products are salt, wheat, corn, oats, pork and tobacco. The following is a list of the townships in 1840, with their population.
Bloom,
1388
Malta,
1404
Olive,
1650
Bristol,
1647
Manchester,
1266
Penn,
1119
Brookfield,
1433
Meigsville,
1159
Union,
1334
Center,
1171
Morgan,
1518
Windsor, 1279
Deerfield,
1224
Noble,
1315
York,
1030
Jackson,
920
The population of Morgan, in 1820, was 5299, in 1830, 11,800, and in 1840, 20,857 ; or 41 inhabitants to the square mile.
The first settlement in this county, made at Big Bottom, on the Muskingum, near the south line of the county, was broken up by the Indians. In the autumn of 1790, a company of 36 men went from Marietta and commenced the settlement. They erected a block- house on the first bottom on the east bank of the river, four miles above the mouth of Meigs creek. They were chiefly young, single men, but little acquainted with Indian warfare or military rules.
" Those best acquainted with the Indians, and those most capable of judging from ap- pearances, had little doubt that they were preparing for hostilities, and strongly opposed the settlers going out that fall, and advised their remaining until spring ; by which time, proba- "ly, the question of war or peace would be settled. Even Gen. Putnam, and the directors of the Ohio company, who gave away the land to have it settled, thought it risky and im- prudent, and strongly remonstrated against venturing out at that time."
" But the young men were impatient, confident in their own prudence and ability to pro- tect themselves. They went, put up a block-house which might accommodate the whole of them on an emergency, covered it, and laid puncheon floors, stairs, &c. It was laid up of large beech logs, and rather open, as it was not chinked between the logs ; this job was left for a rainy day, or some more convenient season. Here was their first great error, as they ceased to complete the work, and the general interest was lost in that of the con- venience of each individual ; with this all was lost. The second error was, they kept no sentry, and had neglected to stockade or set pickets around the block-house." " No sys- tem of defence and discipline had been introduced. Their guns were lying in different places, without order, about the house. Twenty men usually encamped in the house, a part of whom were now absent, and each individual and mess cooked for themselves. One end of the building was appropriated for a fire-place, and when the day closed in, all came in, built a large fire, and commenced cooking and eating their suppers."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.